Citizen,
You might consider a much smaller diameter and greater width to increase the rotation speed. (Consider a small wind turbine rotation speed vs. a large utility turbine; it's related to tip speed.) For an example, look at http://my.fit.edu/~fleslie/Conventional/Hydro/GardensWheel/waterwheel.htm. This wheel is two ft by two ft at a really small waterfall. The six buckets (breastshot or nearside flow) catch the falling water and dump it on the way down. In a spillway height of ~1.5 to 2 inches, it turns at 50 rpm. If a wood pulley of two ft diameter is fastened to an end disk, a belt could drive a 3 inch generator pulley at 24/3 x 50 rpm = 300 rpm. The stall (non-rotating) torque measures 25 lb-ft. This is a variable rainfall stream, so the 1/2 inch high flow yields about 10 rpm, while a four-inch high flow yields 53 rpm unloaded. Frank Leslie -----Original Message----- From: Citizen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 10:50 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [microhydro] How much water is there? Howdy all, new to the list, been lurking a bit but I have some questions. How can I measure the flow of my stream? My section of the stream rarely floods more than 6 ft high and is about the same level all year round, it never freezes and rarely drops more than an inch due to it being spring fed. I know how to figure the area of a stream bed but how can I measure the amount cubic feet per min flowing through it? I want to build a 12' dia "antique looking" wheel for power generation, I think if I can get 10rpm off of it I can run one of the 10kw generators they sell at Harbor Freight Tools. I heard that their used to be fedral laws requiring power companies to buy back any electricity that an individual produces (can't cite the case but it was in the early 70's, a Co-Op built a wind mill and began selling power to their neighbors in NYC). Is this still the case? Where can I find info on this. If I was (theoreticly) able to generate enough power to light all the neighbors in my valley would it be a fedral offence to make and sell energy? N8 Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net To unsubscribe: send empty message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microhydro/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/TzSHvD/SOnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net To unsubscribe: send empty message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microhydro/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
